The BNSF Railway Company is asking the federal Surface
Transportation Board for permission to abandon a 6-mile section of rail line in
the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene areas. The exact location is from Milepost
6.10 near Post Falls to Milepost 12.33 at Coeur d’Alene.

In
order to receive a waiver from a much longer abandonment process, the railroad
must certify that no rail traffic has moved on the line for the past two years
and there are no outstanding complaints about the lack of rail service on the
line. BNSF states there are no shippers remaining on the line and that there has
been no traffic on it for many years.

The
Idaho Public Utilities Commission is required to conduct a public hearing
before the proposed abandonment is considered. The commission’s role is to
determine if the abandonment 1) adversely affects the area being served, 2)
impairs the access of Idaho shippers to vital goods and markets, and 3) whether
the rail line has the potential for profitability. If the commission determines
the proposed abandonment is not in the public interest, it files comments and
represents the state before the Surface Transportation Board. If there are no
objections, the commission will not file comments.

The
commission will conduct a telephonic hearing from its headquarters in Boise on
Tuesday, Sept 22, at 10 a.m. MDT. The railroad, any shipper, local government
leaders and any other interested parties are welcome to participate either in
person in the hearing room at 472 W. Washington St. in Boise or telephonically
by dialing toll-free (866) 680-0146. The participant code is 295999.

Under
the exemption procedure, the Surface Transportation Board will publish a notice
in the Federal Register within 20 days after the petition for exemption is
filed. Thirty days after the notice is published, the railroad is permitted to
abandon the rail line unless the STB stays the abandonment.

A
copy of BNSF Railway Company’s exemption petition to the Surface Transportation
Board is available on the commission’s Web site at www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the rail icon,
then on “Open Rail Cases,” and select Case No. BNR-R-09-01.